Dickens' Christmas : A Victorian Celebration

Rating:
Summary: Welcome to 1843
Review: Nothing says Victorian more than Christmas, and this excellent book by Simon Callow presents a Victorian Christmas as seen through the eyes of the most popular of the Victorian era authors. Charles Dickens unintentionally reinvented the way we celebrate that glorious holiday by one short novel he wrote in 1843 called 'A Christmas Carol.' At the time of writing, the Christmas celebrations he described in his little book were virtually non-existant, but it was Mr. Dickens' descriptions of the way he felt that Christmas should be celebrated that took England, then America, by storm. The party at Fezziwig's, nephew Fred's gathering of friends and family, the Cratchit's meager only in sight celebration. All in descriptive detail. And it's because of Dickens' view on the matter that we celebrate the holiday the way we do now.
Mr. Callow's book gives the reader a full view of an early Victorian Christmas celebration in a number of ways. First and foremost, the complete as it was written novel of 'A Christmas Carol' is here so one can read how it all began. Callow's book goes on to explain the holiday feasts that the celebrants partook in as the Christmas Season grew in popularity, as well as the many traditions - old and new - that became popular. One very old tradition that is still carried on today is wassailing - that is, the singing of Christmas Carols for money or hot chocolate, although in days of old, the waites sang for money or a fruity rum-laced drink!
There are plenty of original 19th century drawings and paintings throughout to give the book the look of Dickens' time.
As this book rightfully states, the only images of Christmas that owe nothing to Dickens are those of the Nativity and of Father Christmas/Santa Claus. Well...ok...the Christmas Tree was introduced to the English through Prince Albert.
I love the Christmas Season and, besides the original Biblical account of the birth of Christ, 'A Christmas Carol' in its many movie versions as well as, of course, the original Dickens writing, is the epitome of the spirit of the holiday. This book by Simon Callow will help anyone who desires to have a Dickens Christmas celebration of there own, either through thoughts while reading it or, if you would like to take it a step further, by having your own Victorian/Dickens Christmas party.
This book by Simon Callow, by the way, is well worth your hard earned dollar.